La Crosse School District to hold new school referendum - WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |

LA CROSSE, WI (WXOW)—The La Crosse School District is moving forward with plans to hold a referendum for a new elementary school.

Earlier this summer the district sent out a survey asking if taxpayers would rather repair or replace Franklin and Roosevelt Elementary Schools.

Based on the results, which showed about half would support a new building, the district decided to hold the referendum.

The proposed elementary school would be a multi-story building, housing around 600 students, estimated to cost around $16 million.

It would raise taxes about $25 per year on a $100,000 home.

The district has posed similar referendums twice before, failing each time.

"We're not sure this time is going to be different," Randy Nelson, La Crosse Superintendent said.  "It's going to be as close as it ever has been. The last time the question has been asked and so the issue is not so much is everyone going to support this. I think the issue is here we are four years later and its time to get closure on this."

If the referendum passes, Nelson hopes to break ground on the new school six months after the vote.

If it fails, the district will begin repairs on Franklin and Roosevelt elementary schools next summer, estimated to cost around $7 million.